All articles tagged with #crowdfunding
Star Citizen has crossed the $1 billion mark in gamer crowdfunding, reaching about $1.005B thanks to recent ship sales at DefenseCon, including the Odin battlecruiser (concept-only but valued at ~$6K), as development remains in a long-running alpha with ongoing debate over funding priorities.
Star Citizen has surpassed $1 billion in crowdfunding from more than 6.5 million backers since 2012, fueling ongoing development toward a first 1.0 release and continued expansion of the universe with backer-funded content. The project, led by Chris Roberts at Cloud Imperium Games, has used unconventional marketing like the Anvil Odin/ Odin Founders Club sale and plans to keep adding content even after 1.0, with Squadron 42 targeting a 2026 finish in a perpetually evolving space sim universe.
Star Citizen has surpassed $1 billion in crowdfunding with about 6.5 million backers since 2012, while launching the Anvil Odin capital ship for $5,000 as a limited, non-playable “vehicle concept pledge” that includes a loaner Idris P until release; Odin Founders Club applications were required, and creator Chris Roberts touts a bold, enduring universe, as the game remains in early access. The news comes amid ongoing discussions about pay-to-win items, which the developers say will be earnable in-game in a future patch, and a free trial runs through May 27.
Star Citizen has surpassed $1 billion in crowdfunding after 14 years, but Cloud Imperium Games still has no announced release date for version 1.0. The latest Alpha 4.8 update introduces a full economy, persistence reset, refueling contracts and a six‑phase Tactical Strike Group on the Nyx base, with refueling mechanics and new gameplay loops added. Developer Chris Roberts has previously floated 2027–2028 for 1.0 and a 2026 window for Squadron 42, though delays remain possible amid competition like GTA 6.
The space‑sim crowdfunding project Star Citizen, announced in 2012 and still in Early Access with no release date, has officially surpassed $1 billion in funding according to its funding page.
Star Citizen has hit $1 billion in lifetime funding through crowdfunding, with all proceeds reinvested into development and operations. Cloud Imperium Games says Squadron 42 is in the closing stages, while no firm release date has been set for Star Citizen’s 1.0; the team emphasizes fan involvement and transparency as the marketing push for Squadron 42 begins.
Kickstarter has rolled back its controversial NSFW guidelines after revealing they were largely driven by Stripe’s compliance rules. The company’s COO said Stripe’s separate requirements shape how money moves and can suspend campaigns mid-funding, leaving creators’ funds in limbo. The platform has returned to a narrow policy banning pornography and illegal content, but notes that Stripe can still suspend campaigns even after Kickstarter approves them. Stripe did not comment.
The Verge reports Kickstarter has tightened its rules to ban rewards described as providing sexual pleasure, allowing pleasure only if the product isn’t designed for insertion or penetration. The move signals a return to stricter moderation after a more permissive stance in 2019, reigniting debate over censorship in the sex-toy industry and how platforms govern content.
A viral crowdfunding effort led by a 22-year-old plans to buy Spirit Airlines out of bankruptcy with hundreds of millions pledged, but experts warn that airline financing and regulatory hurdles, complex labor contracts, and large debt make a real revival unlikely, even as the campaign gains attention and gains some labor backing.
Spirit Airlines has shut down, and a former passenger launched Spirit 2.0 to rally everyday people to buy the airline using a publicly owned model inspired by the Green Bay Packers. Pledges total almost $23 million from about 36,605 people, but no money has moved yet, and the group targets roughly $1.7 billion before private equity could swoop in; regulators and other carriers have begun offering help to stranded travelers.
Mega Crit revealed three Slay the Spire 2 plushies (Ironclad, Silent, Defect) sold through Makeship, available for a limited time until April 3 at $30 each with roughly $20 shipping to the UK and potential customs. The piece highlights Slay the Spire 2’s surge in popularity, including multiplayer and two new classes (Necrobinder and Regent), while noting the author’s own playful confession of ordering two plushies.
Tembo is a toy-like wooden drum machine that uses magnets to hold wooden tokens on a checkerboard-style grid to trigger a five-track sequencer. It includes eight built-in sample packs, support for mic/line-in sampling, built-in effects, and a simple looper, all aimed at making music-making approachable. It’s being crowdfunded on Kickstarter with early-bird pricing around $369 before rising to $550 at retail.
After James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane died from long‑term illnesses, fans launched GoFundMe campaigns to support their families—raising $2.7M for Van Der Beek and about $471K of a $500K goal for Dane—sparking debate over wealth, philanthropy, and whether fans should fund celebrity lives. Experts say rising medical costs and close fan–celebrity bonds could fuel more campaigns, but research shows such efforts are uneven, with white men more likely to raise larger sums, highlighting broader healthcare inequities that crowdfunding alone cannot fix.
James Van Der Beek’s family GoFundMe has raised about $2.65 million from nearly 50,000 donors (77% over its $1.5M goal), prompting 1,500+ comments that split into five recurring camps: Sell the Ranch First, Grief Deserves Grace, Show Us Receipts, This Is a Healthcare Crisis, and It’s Complicated. The debate highlights personal beliefs about wealth, transparency, and the U.S. healthcare system, with donors averaging about $53 each. New reporting that the ranch down payment involved friends via a trust adds nuance to the discussion about whether the campaign was necessary or justified.
Jennifer Esposito says she has to move out of the home she mortgaged to fund her indie drama Fresh Kills, clarifying the house was sold to pay off the mortgage; she’s now crowd-funding her next project, Mary Rides the F Train, to keep pursuing independent cinema.